Young virtuosos entice new audience into classical music with timeless oeuvres

For Filipinos, classical music may not have a cult-like following like that of Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift. But young and accomplished performers of classical music are showing that classical music can be appealing, too.

On September 24, winners of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), the country’s most prestigious music competition for the youth for more than 40 years, will be performing with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) to give a sampling of great works of some of the most prodigious composers who ever lived.



Titled “Konsyerto: Unang Hakbang,” this concert of NAMCYA winners together with the PPO introduces the audience to snippets of longer musical works that have defined musical genres throughout history.

“We called it ‘unang hakbang,’ or first step, because we hope the audience will take that first step to appreciate the beauty of classical music. It is also the first step for some of our young musicians on the stage as professional musicians,” says NAMCYA Secretary General Renato Lucas. “It will be a night of magnificent music-making by NAMCYA’s young virtuosos.”

Lucas adds that NAMCYA has chosen five of its most recent winners to help bring their music to younger audiences.

Andrew Constantino, 1st prize & Special Prize winner for Woodwind (Clarinet) in 2015, will explore the leaps and limits of the clarinet range with Allegro from Clarinet Concerto No. 2, Op. 74, of Carl Maria von Weber (1786 - 1826). Andrew is a 20-year-old clarinetist who was taught by his grandfather to play the clarinet at age 9. He was also a scholar of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA).

Aaron Rafael Aguila III, 1st prize & Best Interpretation winner in the 2016 Senior Guitar Category, will bring to life a classic guitar piece by performing Adagio from Concerto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo (1901 - 1999). Aaron started playing classical guitar at the age of 9 under Ivar Fojas. He earned his music degree under the tutelage of Lester Demetillo and has trained with other well-known classical guitarists.

Nikki Zen Obmasca, 1st prize winner in the 2016 Solo Rondalla Category, will delight the audience with her rendition of Moto Perpetuo by Nicolo Paganini (1782-1840). This piece of Paganini was made for violin but Nikki will play it with her bandurria and infuse her own virtuosic way of playing. She started playing the bandurria when she was only 5 years old and is now a scholar of the PHSA under the tutelage of Nelson Espejo.

Mishael Romano, 1st prize winner in the 2016 Junior Strings (Violin) Category, will attempt to show the innovativeness of Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) with Allegro molto appassionato from the composer’s Violin Concerto, Op. 64. Mishael is 17-years-old and hails from Dipolog in Mindanao. He started playing the violin when he was only 5-years-old, and because he is homeschooled, he has more time to focus on his music.

Gabriel Allan Paguirigan, a two-time winner of NAMCYA, having won the grand prize in 2011 (Category B) and in 2015 (Senior Category), will display his artistry and mastery by performing a Hungarian work, Adagio religioso-Allegro vivace from Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz. 119 of Bela Bartok (1881-1945). Gabriel started his piano lessons at the age of 8 and has finished his Diploma in Creative and Performing Music Arts (DCPMA) Major in Piano, under the tutelage of Prof. Luci Magalit and Prof. Nita Abrogar-Quinto.

The country’s leading orchestra and resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the PPO will also perform Der Freischuetz Overture by Carl Maria von Weber and L’italiana in Algeri Overture by Gioacchino Rossini. The orchestra will be under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera.

“We are trying to open up new opportunities for our youth today to explore music from the great composers of the past. We hope NAMCYA’s young artists will help us with that,” says Lucas.

NAMCYA PROFILE - National Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA)

Mandate
In recognition of the Filipinos’ innate love for music, the National Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) was formally organized in 1973 under Presidential Proclamation No. 1173 and amended on November 1988 as a response to “the imperative need to develop and promote Philippine music as an art and as a handmaid of cultural development.”
PP 1173 has designated the last week of November of each year as National Music Week, with the NAMCYA Competitions as main highlights of the celebration. In 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Presidential Proclamation No. 80 which affirms NAMCYA’s mission for the nation’s young artists. This Proclamation further designates the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as the primary supporting agency of this endeavor.

Mission
To Discover and Develop outstanding young Filipino Musicians and Artists.
The NAMCYA has been a principal instrument in discovering major music talents from all over the country. Its project involves some one million musicians, trainers and administrations, in a long and tedious process of selecting the best among the regions annually.

NAMCYA has a three-fold program: 
1. Discovering outstanding Young Filipino musicians from every region of the country through annual competitions
2. Developing these musicians through Workshops and Training Programs
3. Enhancing and expanding the appreciation for and performance of Filipino music by way of mandated competition repertoire programs and commissioning of new works.

ANNUAL COMPETITIONS. These identify outstanding performers falling under the categories that included group and solo performances.

Group Categories: Children’s Choir, Youth Choir, Adult Choir, Rondalla Ensemble, and Traditional Music Ensemble.

Solo Categories: Solo Voice, Strings, Piano, Woodwinds, Brasses, Percussion, Solo Rondalla Instruments.

In line with decentralization, these are intended to share the music of outstanding young talents with the rest of the country. They are also intended to raise nationwide awareness of the wealth of Filipino talents as well as the depth of Philippine music in both its traditional and modern forms.

MASTER CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. These are aimed at upgrading the skills of performers, conductors, teachers, students and parents who accompany their children on the competition and workshop sojourns witness first-hand the kind of work and dedication that are necessary for by music accomplishment. Furthermore, they are exposed to the quality of other artist competitors and are able to broaden and widen their perspectives vis-à-vis music training and education.


EXPANDING FILIPINO MUSIC. Another concern of NAMCYA is the development of a repertory of music by Filipino Composers intended for young artists, with this, the NAMCYA commissions contest pieces for the annual event.

1 comment:

clarisse vaylon manuel said...

Fb name: lucky iza manuela
real name: clariza baylon manuel
email address: clarizha143@hotmail.com

I want to win a free ticket to the concert. For me and my sis christine's bonding moment. We both love watching live concert. we are a certified classical music lover because listening to their relaxing instrument relieved our stress, it also make our heart and soul joyful.. hope to win!!

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